MOGADISHU, Somalia – Sudan’s military formally complained to Somalia, accusing the UAE of funneling weapons and mercenaries through Puntland to support the RSF forces.
The complaint was delivered in Mogadishu by Sudan’s intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim Ali Mufaddal, urging an investigation into suspected routes.
Khartoum alleges Colombian fighters and weapons pass through Bosaso’s port and airport before entering Sudan to aid the RSF in conflict.
The RSF has fought Sudan’s army since April 2023, devastating Khartoum and spreading violence across Darfur with brutal clashes and widespread suffering.
Puntland and the UAE dened involvement as Abu Dhabi called the accusations “baseless,” while Puntland officials rejected any complicity in the arms flow.
After Sudan’s protest, UAE’s Minister Shakhboot bin Nahyan visited Mogadishu for talks; a second Emirati delegation followed to discuss the ongoing allegations.
Somalia’s federal government has uneasy ties with the UAE, which maintains close relations with Puntland and Somaliland, stirring regional diplomatic tensions.
Sudan says UAE ties have made Puntland a transit hub for weapons and fighters supporting the RSF’s campaign in the Darfur conflict.
In May, Sudan cut diplomatic ties with the UAE, accusing it of arming the RSF—charges Abu Dhabi has consistently denied in response.
Sudan also claimed to have downed a UAE aircraft in Darfur, allegedly carrying foreign fighters; Abu Dhabi rejected this claim as false.
The Sudanese civil war erupted when tensions between Gen. Burhan’s army and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo escalated into violent open warfare.
Former allies in ousting President Omar al-Bashir, Burhan and Dagalo are now locked in a deadly fight for control over Sudan.
Over 40,000 have died and nearly 12 million displaced, making the conflict one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in recent history.
Sudan insists the RSF survives through foreign support, frequently accusing the UAE of providing arms, funding, and logistical assistance to the militia.
Last month, Sudan claimed to have shot down another UAE aircraft carrying Colombian fighters, leaving 40 dead—an allegation the UAE denies firmly.
Sudanese officials want Somalia to act against suspected arms routes, but Mogadishu faces pressure to maintain relations with its important Gulf ally.
The UAE remains one of Somalia’s top investors and a partner in counterterrorism, infrastructure, and humanitarian efforts throughout the region despite ongoing diplomatic strains.